Off-Duty Police Officer Shoots Dog In Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — An off-duty Los Angeles police officer shot a dog in the Hollywood Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

About 3 p.m., someone called police about a vicious dog inside Ghirardelli ice cream shop on Hollywood Boulevard next to the El Capitan theater.

Witnesses told CBS2's Jeff Nguyen that a man walked into the store with his pit bull and caused a ruckus.

"He was all agitated. Really upset. They were trying to get him to leave. They had the other security guards come in, and he was bumping into people. He bumped into us a couple of times," Christine McNish recalled.

Witnesses said security guards tried to calm the man, but things only got worse as the guards wrestled him to the ground.

Police said when an off-duty officer, who happened to be in the area, stepped in to try to help, the pit bull attacked the officer, who shot the animal.

Witnesses said the animal snapped after its owner was yanking it around inside the store right before the confrontation with security guards.

"The dog was so frantic from being yanked and everything. It's no wonder he bit somebody," Candice Callison said.

Joseph Rowland, who works for the bus line that operates right in front of the store, said he had seen the dog in the past.

"I've seen that dog several times on the Boulevard. I've pet the dog one time. The dog is generally friendly," said Rowland. "It was friendly after it was shot and hurt because one of the workers at El Capitan was putting a towel on its face to try to stop the bleeding. The dog wasn't even aggressive even when it was hurt. So, I kind of believe that the owner was mistreating the dog, and the dog bit somebody."

Police said the off-duty officer and a security guard were taken to a hospital for bite wounds.

The dog owner was not hurt. His pet was taken to a veterinarian's hospital.